Thiago Motta keeps his Juventus tactical options open after using Teun Koopmeiners, Kenan Yildiz and Nico Gonzalez during the 4-0 win over Cagliari. ‘I never use players if they are not convinced.’
If they were jeered off the pitch at the weekend following a fourth consecutive Serie A stalemate, 2-2 against rock bottom Venezia, then it was a very different mood at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin tonight.
Thiago Motta’s men swept Cagliari aside 4-0 with quality goals from Dusan Vlahovic, Teun Koopmeiners, Francisco Conceicao and Nico Gonzalez, setting up a Coppa Italia quarter-final clash with Empoli.
“It was a good performance, the fans were right behind us as always. At times, as I said the other night, they have the freedom to express their feelings with respect, but we need them,” Thiago Motta told Canale 5.
“These lads are going through a tough situation in the right way, giving their all in every training session. At times we are able to get positive results, at others we don’t. It’s not because we are Juventus, but because we have players of great quality as we saw today and should aim high.
“Those coming back from injury like Douglas Luiz and Nico Gonzalez can help the team going forward.”
Thiago Motta experimenting at Juventus
There were a few experiments this evening, as Manuel Locatelli was used as a central defender for the first hour and Weston McKennie an odd left-back, while Koopmeiners played in a deeper midfield role, leaving Kenan Yildiz as the trequartista in the supporting trio.
“Koopmeiners did well, he came off today because he was playing with flu symptoms and proved his professionalism by helping the team in those conditions,” revealed Thiago Motta.
“I like him playing anywhere. He is a player with technical quality, physicality, a strong mentality, he helps and reacts in the right way during difficult moments, without complaining or seeking alibis.
“The team works when he is on the pitch, but when the team works then he can also express his quality as an individual, so it is symbiotic. It doesn’t matter if he plays as a 4, a 6 or an 8, the important thing is to have him in good shape.
“Both on and off the field, he is a top player.”
Kenan Yildiz was also used in a more central position, so will that be repeated by Thiago Motta in future or was this just an emergency situation?
“If we didn’t have all these injuries, we didn’t need to play Locatelli in defence, that’s for sure. He’s intelligent, can read the game well and I never use a player in a role if he isn’t convinced,” assured the coach.
“Kenan is the same, he has a marvellous present, but the future is extraordinary for what I can see in training and match situations. When we play him wide and he gets the right service, he can get past men. In a more central position he is more active, although he lost the ball a few too many times this evening.”
The goal from Nico Gonzalez was a remarkable solo effort and a sign that he is finally regaining fitness after two months out injured.
“Nico Gonzalez also can play as a 10, a winger and a centre-forward. What he brings to the squad is also his positive energy, so we are happy to have him with us,” concluded Thiago Motta.
Related News :